Timmy Oh of Vara Safety
An exclusive Tech Tribune Q&A with Timmy Oh, the founder and CEO of Vara Safety, which was honored in our:
Tell us the origin story of Vara Safety – what problem were you trying to solve and why?
I founded Vara Safety with a mission to bring gun safety to families. Approximately 4.6 million children live in a home with a loaded and unsecured gun and it is estimated that 70% of child shooting deaths could have been prevented by responsible firearm storage. I believed that through smart technology, we could create a product that would prevent gun-related accidents and save lives.
What was the biggest hurdle you encountered in your journey?
The biggest challenge along the journey was navigating a startup world that was very adverse to firearms. Even with our product being a safety solution, many venture firms and service companies would not work with us because our company was related to the industry of guns. Despite this hurdle, being passionate and clear about our social mission helped people from these firms and companies understand. Many times, they made an exemption and ended up helping us.
What does the future hold for Vara Safety?
Vara Safety is continuing to expand our team and we are in the process of setting up a second facility here in Troy, NY. We have been fortunate to see increasing sales during these difficult COVID-19 times and want to help revitalize our local community with more quality jobs. It is very exciting to see the continued growth of this company.
What are your thoughts on the local tech startup scene in Troy?
The local startup scene here in Troy and upstate New York has been phenomenal. Particularly, organizations and events such as Startup Tech Valley, Upstate Venture Connect, and UNY50 have been amazing startup resource hubs that can guide a young entrepreneur to success. Whenever there was a question or challenge that came up, there were always mentors to help advise.
What’s your best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?
The best advice I can give to aspiring entrepreneurs is to find and build an amazing team. Passionate people who join in on the mission becomes a powerful thing.